The Weekly Watch · Oct 7–13, 2026

What happened this week, and what to do if it reaches you

Hi friend,

Artemis here. Every week I keep an eye on what's happening around the world, so you don't have to doom-scroll to stay informed. This week was a busy one: a volcano, a hurricane, a health scare and some unrest overseas.

For each one, I'll tell you what happened in plain English, plus the few things I'd actually do if I were in the area. It's the same calm, practical mindset I learned in the Marine Corps, minus the gear and the drama.

Taal Volcano seen from the International Space Station

Taal Volcano from the International Space Station. Image: NASA

1 · Philippines

Two volcanoes erupted, and ash is still falling

Kanlaon Volcano sent ash 3 to 4 miles into the sky on Saturday, two days after a small eruption at Taal near Manila. No deaths have been reported. Here in the U.S., we have 161 potentially active volcanoes, mostly in Alaska, Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest.

If you're ever in an ashfall area:
• Stay inside, close windows and turn off any AC that pulls in outside air.
• Wear an N95 mask outside. Cloth masks don't stop fine ash.
• Never run your windshield wipers on dry ash. It scratches the glass.

Read the full volcanic ash guide →

2 · Florida & the Southeast

Hurricane Isaias: the storm passed, the danger came after

Isaias came ashore near Destin, Florida, on Friday night with 105 mph winds. About 940,000 homes lost power, and at least four people died. One of those deaths was from carbon monoxide: a generator running in a closed garage.

If the power is out after a storm:
• Run generators outside only, at least 20 feet from doors and windows.
• Put a battery carbon monoxide alarm on every level of your home.
• Stay out of floodwater. Just 12 inches of moving water can carry a car.

Every U.S. weather emergency, and the calm plan for each →

3 · Russia

The "plague" headlines, without the panic

A worker at a Siberian research institute died, and the word "plague" spread fast online. Our post separates what's confirmed from what isn't. Worth knowing: plague is treatable with antibiotics when it's caught early. And it isn't only a faraway problem: the U.S. sees a handful of cases most years, mostly in the rural Southwest.

If you hike or camp in the Southwest:
• Don't touch sick or dead rodents, and keep pets away from them.
• Use insect repellent and treat pets for fleas.
• If a sudden fever follows a flea bite, see a doctor quickly and mention where you've been.

What we actually know →

4 · France

Student protests turned into weeks of unrest

Three weeks of high school protests in France have closed schools and blocked streets, with nearly 7,000 arrests so far. If you have travel plans, it's worth a look before you go.

If you're traveling somewhere with unrest:
• Enroll in the State Department's free STEP program for safety alerts.
• Steer clear of large crowds, even peaceful ones. Things can change fast.
• Keep your phone charged and know a second route back to where you're staying.

What's happening, and a calm plan for unrest near home →

My 5-minute tip for this week

Do the blindfold test tonight

Turn off the lights and try to find your flashlight with your eyes closed. If it takes more than 10 seconds, move it to your nightstand. Then flip it on and check the batteries. I do this one myself every few months. It's the smallest step, and the one that matters most when the power goes out at 2 a.m.

That's it for this week. If something here hit close to home, or you've got a question about your own setup, just hit reply to any issue. It comes straight to me, and I read every one.

Stay steady,

Artemis

Founder, Urban Prep Network · U.S. Marine Corps veteran

P.S. Every guide I've written lives on our blog, free to read anytime: urbanprepnetwork.com/blog. And if you know someone who'd find this useful, feel free to forward it along.

Our tools, for reference: Free Nightstand Kit · Prepared, Not Paranoid · The UrbanPrep Journal

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General safety information only, not medical, legal or professional advice. Always follow local officials.
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